Is homosexuality really a good basis for a family?

Question

I'm not concerned with whether or not homosexuality is moral. As long as the two people involved are consensual, then it's nobody's business to stop them.

However, if homosexuals try to start a family, is it really a family? Obviously, they can't breed with each other so they have to adopt or have a baby with someone outside their relationship. This creates a problem because there is a vacuum for the two natural roles of a family, mother and father. There will either be two mothers or two fathers.

How does this situation effect the raising of a child? Do children necessarily require a mother and a father to be present in their lives growing up? Single parents are raising children all the time but how does having two parents with the same role and gender effect the psychology of the child?

I'm not arguing for or against the issue. I just would like to get people's opinions on this with maybe some scientific evidence to back it up.

Don't give me religious reasons because they are not based on reality but rather, mysticism which does not give you true facts about the world.

Answer 1

Try looking up the ALREADY published studies done on this by American Pediatric Association: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/feb/02020502.html

and the American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/policy/parents.html

Children raised by same sex parent are PERFECTLY happy, healthy and NORMAL.

Children only need healthy, loving, safe homes to be raised in. They find gender role models all over in society, their families and communities. Their Extended families such as Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents, Male and Female friends of the family, teachers, pastors, group leaders...etc...all play a role in the development of a child and their social orientation.
I've never met a child who hasn't socialized with anyone except their parents until adulthood and to assume as much is preposterous.

AND actually, the rate of children raised in same sex parented homes who are rideculed or bullied at school is actually extremely LOW.
My own son was NEVER teased or made fun of for being raised by my partner and myself.
He knows who he is, he knows who his parents are, he knows that he's a male, he knows his place in society, he has never questioned his sexual orientation, is honest, hard working, goal oriented, a good student, a great friend, compassionate and conciderate of others.

Answer 2

The issue of homosexuality is really nothing to do with raising a family. The important thing is what the people involved in building a family are like. We place so much value on having a mother and a father but ignore the fact that many many children grow up, perfectly happily, in what we call abnormal family units. Having two parents who happen to be the same sex is just different, that's all. Sure, it's going to influence the way a child will grow up but then again so does everything. A family is whatever we make it. Having a mother and a father is no guarantee of a good basis for a family. there are so many ways to go and decisions to make when bringing up children that to simplify it down to a simple issue of homosexuality or not is out of the question. Love, happiness and a genuine desire to put the children first are just a few of the things that go into making a good family situation. As a parent, I am trying my best to bring up my two wonderful children but I know that I'm far from perfect but that's not because I'm 'straight', it's because I'm human, with all the flaws that go with it. Parenting is hard work. Anybody with the heart and soul to make a go of it should be encouraged not criticised for doing things differently. We have enough troubles in the world without letting small-minded people tell us how we should live. Long live freedom and long live love. Without love, we are living out our lives in a cold, unforgiving place.

Answer 3

It doesn't seem to have any ill effect. As you said single parents do it all the time.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgpchildren.html

In my province recently there were 2 lesbians that had a child, and the father also wanted to remain a parent. The problem is that the non-biological mother in the couple couldn't be a parent as well, because the father would have to give up his rights as a parent, which he didn't want. This went to court, now the child has 3 parents legally. They're all responsible. Imagine that family dynamic.

Sorta surprising it didn't happen earlier, with divorced people remarrying.

But back to your point, I'm no less a parent because of my relationship. You're also ignoring the fact that lots of children of hetero parents have a parent that is absent emotionally etc. Or the parents can have same-gender roles in there.

Plus in other countries it's not uncommon for whole families to live together in one house, if that doesn't screw up the child's dynamics then nothing will.

Answer 4

I would like to say that no it won't matter.
I grew up with a girl who's biological parents were both gay. She was raised by her mother but also spent time with her father also. Not only was she 100 % sure she was not an accident but she had four parents that wanted her so much.. There are several things that may pop up like other kids being mean about it. I think that it is far better than the single parent household that I grew up in. I love my mother very much I just know that I missed out on all the love of the other parent.. I myself am a lesbian and my partner and I plan to get pregnant in Aug.

Answer 5

Are you asking what a family means? In your statement: "This creates a problem because there is a vacuum for the two natural roles of a family, mother and father. There will either be two mothers or two fathers."..

What about the single parent families? Or what about families where there are more than one mother and more than one father?

Also, in reality what happens with many gay families, is that the child has strong relationships with more than two caregivers, meaning that they have extended families. They hvae uncles, aunts, grandparents, god parents, etc who are just as important role models as their biological parents.

Answer 6

While I see your point I do not think legislation making divorce illegal is the answer. Would you tell a person who is being abused by their spouse that they cannot dissolve such a psychologically & physically unhealthy union? It would make people who otherwise could get away from unhealthy relationships stay in them. Homosexuality does not undermine family values.. has Massachusetts imploded because it allows marriages for any person who is a resident of the state? No. Families live on as they had before the legislation.

Answer 7

This is a great question, and well worded!!

My advice to you is to rent the DVD "All Aboard" staring Rosie And Kelli O'Donnell and about 500 other gay and lesbian families that take part in a new ground breaking gay cruise for families. It will show you that no matter what the actual genders are of the parents.... LOVE is the key!!

Rosie & Kelli O'Donnell own and opperate their company, r family vacations. Look it up!

Answer 8

My lesbian rabbi's wife just had twins. Adorable things, I might add.

This boy and girl will be raised not only in their household with two mothers, but at our synagogue, where there are hundreds of male role models for them. I'm sure Coby and Avi will turn out just fine, since their mothers are fine, upstanding, moral people who are productive in society.

Answer 9

Many children who are raised under a household with a homosexual atmosphere tend to seek for another figure to be there father/mother, there is always a gap missing. This causes them to search for this and leads them to be rebellious in teenage years.

Answer 10

Mother and father are gender roles. Gender roles are socially constructed. They are not needed for healthy development, they are only needed for easy assimilation, the thought of which makes me sick. (Side note: I refuse to assimilate!)
Orientation isn't effected, except that they are more likely to express rather than repress it.